IRD website crashes on GST return day

Parts of the Inland Revenue website became unavailable on almost the worst possible day of the calendar – the day when monthly, two-monthly and six-monthly GST returns fall due.

There are “issues” with the site, IRD spokesman David Miller confirmed.

Telephones into the IRD also appear to have intermittent difficulties; some gave the “unobtainable” tone, and one went straight to a voicemail system that notified it was unable to record messages.

Later this afternoon Inland Revenue apologised to customers unable to access the website and assured them they will not be disadvantaged.

Acting commissioner, Martin Smith, says an error in the system settings meant some customers couldn’t access the website over a period of about three hours.

“We understand this caused inconvenience for a number of customers, particularly those filing GST returns today.

“We acted as quickly as possible to restore services and have taken steps to prevent any further recurrence.

“If customers haven’t been able to meet their filing obligations today because the website was down, we’d ask them to file as soon as they are able, but we want to assure them they won’t be disadvantaged by something beyond their control,” he says.

In February an Inland Revenue briefing for Minister of Revenue Peter Dunne, continued to point to major problems with the replacement of IRD’s FIRST core computer system, now more than 20 years old.

Copyright 2018 IDG Communications. ABN 14 001 592 650. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission of IDG Communications is prohibited.